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be for want of the same part, then as nearly as may be, in some other part of at least equal value and estimation, in the opinion of a jury, and moreover, shall forfeit one half of his lands and goods to the sufferer.
Whosoever shall counterfeit† any coin, current by law within this Commonwealth, or any paper bills issued in the nature of money, or of certificates of loah on the credit of this Commonwealth, or of all or any of the United States of America, or any Inspectors’ notes for tobacco, or shall pass any such counterfeited coin, paper, bills, or notes, knowing them to be counterfeit ; or, for the sake of lucre shall diminish,} case, or wash any such coin, shall be con- demned to hard labor six years in the public works, and shall for- feit all his lands and goods to the Commonwealth.
‡ Whosoever committeth Arson, shall be condemned to hard labor five years in the public works, and shall make good the loss. of the sufferers threefold.§
felonie atteint et attende jugement, si soit le jugement tiel que il perde autriel membre come il avera tollet al pleintyfe. Etsy la pleynte soit faite de femme que avera tollet a home ses membres, en tiel cas perdra la femme la une meyn par jugement, come le membre dount ele avera trespasse.’ Britton, c. 25. Fleta. B. 1. c. 40. Ll. Aelfr. 19. 40.
- 25. E. 3. st. 5.c 2. 5. El. c. 11. 18. El. c. 1. 8. 9. W. 3. c. 26. 15. 16. G. 2.c. 28. 7. Ann. c.25. By the laws of Aethelstan and Canute, this was pun-
ished by cutting off the hand. ‘ Gif se mynetere ful wurthe slea man tha hand of, the he that ful mid worthe and sette uppon tha mynet smiththan.’ In Eng- lish characters and words ‘if the minter foul [criminal] wert, slay the hand off, that he the foul [crime] with wrought, and set upon the mint-smithery.’ Ll. Aethelst. 14. ‘ And sethe ofer this false wyrce, tholige thera handa the he thet false mid worhte.’ ‘ Et si quis praeter hanc, falsam fecerit, perdat manum quacum falsam confecit.’ Ll. Cnuti. 8. It had been death by the Ll. Aethelredi sub fine. By those of H.1. ‘si quis cum falso denario inventus fuerit—fiat justitia mea, saltem de dextro pugno et de testiculix’ Anno 1108. Operae pretium vero est audire quam severus rex fueritin pravos. Monetarios enim fere omnes totius Angliae fecit ementulari, et manus dextras abscindi, quia monetam furtive corruperant. Wilkins ib. et anno 1125. When the Common law became settled, it appears to have been punishable by death. ‘ Est aliud genus criminis quod sub nomine falsi continetur, et tangit coronam domini regis, et ultimum inducit supplicium, sicut de illis qui falsam fabricant monetam, et qui de re non reproba, faciunt reprobam; sicut sunt retonsores denariorum. Bract. L. 3. c. 3. § 2. Fleta, L. 1. c. 22. § 4. Lord Hale thinks it was deemed petty treason at common law. 1.H. P. C. 220.224. The bring- ing in false money with intent to merchandize, and make payment of it is treason, by 25. E. 3. But the best proof of the intention, is the act of passing it, and why not leave room for repentance here, as in other cases of felonies intended? 1. H. P. C, 229
† Clipping, filing, rounding, impairing, scaling, lightening, (the words in » the statutes) are included in ‘ diminishing :’ gilding, in the word ‘ casing ;’ pcg in the word ‘ washing ;’ and falsifying or marking, is ‘ counter- eiting.”
‡ 43. El. c. 13. confined to four counties. 22. 23. Car. 2. c.7. 9 G.1.c. 22. 9. G. 3. c. 29.
§ Arson was a felony at Common law—3. inst. 66; punished by a fine, Ll. Aethelst.6. But Ll. Cnuti, 61. make it a ‘ scelus inexpiable.’ ‘ Hus bree and
